Chapter 9

Sora and Riku tumbled out of the Door into Timeless River, landing in a tangled heap a few feet from the Door.

"Whoa!" Riku said in surprise as he sat up quickly and took in the black and white surroundings, then looked at himself and Sora. "I know you said it would be like this, but ... wow..."

"Yeah, I felt the same way when we first came here." They turned in a quick circle, surveying the surroundings again, this time for signs of Donald or anyone else that didn't belong. Once they were sure that there was no one else around, they headed off towards the river, where a small gathering of houses and other buildings was.

A few minutes after they left, the Door opened again, this time allowing a girl with dark hair and eyes to step through. She glanced around quickly, and then headed off in the opposite direction of the buildings by the river, towards the beginning site of the construction of the castle.

Sora and Riku found themselves once again standing in front of the Door. Sora flopped down on the ground beside it with an exasperated sigh. "We've searched everywhere in town and we still haven't seen even the slightest sign of Donald or anyone else who doesn't belong in this time."

"Relax, Sora, there's still a few places left for us to search. They're here somewhere, we'll find them soon enough. Now c'mon, let's go check out the construction site for the castle."

Sora groaned in protest, then stood slowly, and stretched. "Fine, let's go."

A little while later, they were wandering around the construction site, trying not to disturb the workers too much. Sora was ready to give up for the day, when he caught a glimpse of a slightly familiar face dodging behind a pile of stone.

"Riku!"

"Now what, Sora?" Riku asked in a very impatient tone.

"I just saw that girl."

"What girl?"

"The one that I bumped into in Radiant Gardens!"

"Sora, that's impossible. She wouldn't have known about this place, much less how to get here."

"I'm telling you, Riku, I saw here, and she's hiding behind that pile of stones right over there!"

"Okay, I'll believe you when I see her. Let's go check."

They crept around the stones from opposite sides, and when they met on the other side, a girl with dark hair and eyes was huddled down between them.